Coupling for electric switch handles



March 24, 1942.

D. W. JOHNSON COUPLING FOR ELECTRIC SWiI'CH HANDLES Filed April 21, 1941 lizvnia;

DAVID W. JOHNSON {9 222's axz'z-arne ys Patented Mar. 24, 1942 COUPLING FOB ELECTRIC SWITCH HANDLES David W. Johnson,

New Britain, Com. to The Arrow-Hart a Hegeman Electric Hartford, Coma, a corporation of Connecticut alsignor Application April 21; 1941, Serial No. 389,847

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a coupling for electric switch handles. More particularly, it relates to a coupling which may be applied on the job, or after fabrication of a switch, to a plurality of neighboring, similar switch handles in order that s the handles may be operated simultaneously.

The invention has for an object the provision oi an improved coupling which may be applied at any time to twoor more neighborin switch handles moving in parallel planes in such manner that the'handles may be operated Jointly as a unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling of the above type which shall be permanent when once made.

Another object is to provide a coupling of the above type which will lock itself in position and will be non-removable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as it i described in connection with the accompanying drawing.

This. application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 375,341, flied January 21, 1941.

In the drawing Fig. l is a planvview of a double electric switch having a pair of parallelly-movable operating levers with my improved coupling in position to be connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. l, but with the parts in a further advanced stage of assembly.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the construction oi Fig. 1 in fully-assembled position.

Fig. 5 is a section view through one handle and the coupling taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section view similar to Fig. 5, but with the handles and coupling fully assembled.

Fig. 7 is a section view taken along a line such as l-i of Fig. 6, but showing the invention applied to three switch handles.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing in p rspective the connecting bar and locking spring of my improved handle coupling.

In the different forms of the invention as illustrated in the drawing, like parts bear like reference numerals.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is shown in Figs. 1-6 as applied to a double electric switch having a base ill of insulating material and' a flat plate cover I! thereon provided with apertures it through which extend parallellymovable operating handles or levers it and it. 56 tion, 1. e., back Ordinarily the levers will be mounted upon pivots within the switch I casing and will be iormed of molded insulating material with transverse apertures Ito and its formed in the upper end portions thereof. These apertures may be rectangular in section and may have their side walls tapered toward the center of the lever.

The coupling comprises 9, cylindrical insulating body "having a central passage 22 formed thereinwith a reduced end portion 24 forming shoulders 26 adjacent one end thereof. Through the central'passage there is insertable a connector bar It stamped from sheet metal, having lateral extensions 32 and 34 directly opposite one another and nearer one end than the other of the bar. In the center of the enlarged rectangular portion formed by the extensions 32 and It is an aperture 3 for the reception of a locking leaf spring having cne end a longer than-and oii'set fromshorter end 40 by a portion 42 oblique to said end portion. The left edges or shoulders (as seen in Fig. 7) of the extensions 82 and It, by. abutting the inside prevent the connector 30 from of the connector bar, with the along the longer end of the bar, the short end of the bar can be inserted through the reduced end of the cylinder 20 until the short end or the bark lust ready to come out of the other side of the cylindrical body III. (This position of the connector bar and cylinder ill is shown in Fig. 1). Then the long end of the connector bar can be inserted in the transverse passage of one ,of the handles, for example Ito. (This position is shown in Figs. 3 and 5 oi the drawing). Then, the other handle It can be moved to the same relative position as the handle It and the connector bar I. can be pushed through the cylinder It so as to insert the shorter end of the bar into the transverse passage Ila of the handle. In so doing, the long end of the spring II will pass entirely through the reduced portion 24 of the cylinder II and will snap behind the shoulder as. (This final position of the parts is shown in Figs. 4 and 6.) In this final position. the coupling is locked permanently to the handles since it is impossible to move the connector bar III through the eway Ila of tension l2 and It abutting the inside face or the handle, and, at the same time. it is impossible to move the connector bar in the opposite directo the position of Fig. 5, because long end It lying the same relative position.

the longer end it oi the locking spring abuts the shoulder I! o! the cylinder ll, causing that body to abut the handle it. More. the coupling has locked itself in position and the connection is permanently made. a

In Fig. I, I have shown the invention as applied to connecting three switch handles. It be applied to connect a larger number oi'ban butdescrlpfl noiyokingthreewill suiiioe to explain the princip es and construction or any number.

The form of invention all respects that the long end oi the connector bar III is longer than in Figs. 1-6 and 8 wherein only two handles were joined. .It will be as long as need be to join the requisite number handles whether that number be two. three or more.

In assembling the term or Fig.1, instead oi threading the long end or the connector bar through only. one handle IO, it will be threaded through all but the first one, i. e, through It and II but not through ll. During this threadingthrough,alloithehandlesbut llwillbein After the threading through, handle ll will be moved into the same inl'lg.'listhesa mein relative position as the handles II and I8, and

the connector bar a can be pushed through the cylinder II so as to insert the shorter end oi the'bar into the transverse passage Ila oi the handle, thus locking the parts in the same, manner as in the.previously-described form Figs. .1-6.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when a switch having two or more adjacent independent mechanisms is sold. my coupling can be added thereto at any time the purchaser desires, to convert the switch into a double pole switch. a multi-pole switch, or into a pair 'or more oi yoked single pole switches. Obviously the invention is applicable to adjacent handles oi. switch mechanisms, whether the mechanisms are in the same base or not.

Many modifications within the scope of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore. I do not limit the invention to the speclilc embodiments illustrated and described.

I claim:

i. In combination. a plurality of neighboring switch operating levers movable in parallel planes, each lever having a transverse aperture, a coupling for said levers comprising a hollow body between adjacent levers and havinga passageway with a shoulder therein, a connecting member extending loosely through said body with its ends in two of said hand lever apertures, means preventing said connecting member from moving entirely through the apertures 01 said two levers. means preventing withdrawal 0! said connecting member from one end of said body after being inserted in said body.

2. In combination, a plurality oi neighboring switch operating levers movable in parallel planes, each lever having a transverse aperture,

a coupling for said levers comprising a hollow body between adjacent levers and having a passageway with a shoulder therein, a bar with a lateral shoulder engageable with one 01 said levers to prevent withdrawal or the bar from the remainder 0! said levers, and a locking spring associated with said bar and engaging with said passageway shoulder to prevent withdrawal of said bar irom said one of said levers.

as that in Figs. 1-8 and 8 except planes, each lever having a transverse aperture, a coupling ior said levers comprising a hollow body between adjacent levers and having a pas- W W -YI levers to prevent withdrawal of the bar from the remainder oi said levers, and means associated with said bar and body to prevent withdrawal 0! said bar from said one oi saidlevers.

i. In combination, a plurality otneighboring switch operating levers movable in parallel planes, each lever having a transverse aperture, a coupling for said levers comprising a hollow body between adjacent levers having a passageway, a connecting bar in said passageway, means on said bar engageable with one 0! said levers to prevent withdrawal or the bar from the remainder of said levers, and a locking, spring associated with said bar and body to preventpassing oisaidbarthroughsaidbodyinthe direction 0! the remainder 01 said levers sufllciently to disassociate said coupling irom said levers.

5. A coupling for yoking together of a plurality of switch operating levers of completely iabricated switches in which the operating lever 0! each has a transverse opening therethrough, comprising a hollow body positionable between adjacent levers and having a passageway alignable with said lever openings, a bar insertable into said passageway, locking means preventing removal of said bar from one end of said body,

' means on said bar preventing passage o the 3. In combination, a plurality of neighboring switch operating levers movable in parallel bar through the opening in that one of said adjacent switch levers which is farther from said one end of said body.

6. A coupling ior yoking together of adjacent switch operating levers of completely fabricated switches in which the operating lever of each has a transverse opening therethrough, comprising a hollow body positionable between said levers and having a passageway alignable with said lever openings, a bar insertable into said passageway irom either end, automatically operable locking means preventing removal of said bar from one end of said body after insertion oi the bar through said end to a predetermined position, and means on said bar preventing passage of the bar through the opening in that one oi said adjacent switch levers which is farther irom said one end of said body.

'7. A coupling for yoking together of switch operating levers of completely fabricated switches in which the operating lever 01 each has a transverse opening therethrough, comprising a hollow body positionable between adjacent levers and having a passageway alignable with said lever openings, a bar insertable into said passageway, one end oi said bar being insertable through one lever while the other end 01 the bar is within said body whereby an adjacent lever may be moved into position corresponding to said one lever in order that said other end of said bar may be moved into the opening of said adjacent lever, means on said bar preventing passage 0! said bar through the opening in said adjacent lever sufficiently to permit passage oi said one end of the bar out of the opening of any other lever and locking means operating when said coupling is assembled to prevent movement of said bar sufllciently into the opening in said one lever to permit passage of said other end of the bar out or the opening of said adjacent lever.

8. A coupling for yoking together of adjacent switch operating levers oi completely fabricated switches in which the operating lever 01 each has a connecting bar in said passageway, means on said bar engageable with one of said spring means associated with hollow body positionable between adjacent levers passageway alignable with said and having a lever openings, a bar insertable into said passageway, one end of said bar being insertable through one lever while the other end of the bar is within said body whereby an adjacent lever may be moved into position corresponding to said one lever in order that said levers may be coupled, and means automatically operating as said levers become coupled to prevent uncoupling.

9. A coupling for yoking together of adjacent switch operating levers of completely fabricated switches in which the operating lever of each has a transverse opening therethrough, comprising a hollow body positionable between adjacent levers and having a passageway alignable with said lever openings, a bar insertable into said passageway, one end of said bar being insertable through one lever while the other end of the bar is within said body whereby an adjacent lever may be moved into position corresponding to said one lever in order that said levers may be coupled, said body and bar to lock the coupling as said levers become coupled.

10. A coupling for yoking together of adjacent switch operating levers of completely fabricated switches in which the operating lever of each has a transverse opening therethrough, comprising a hollow body positioned between said levers and having a,passageway with a shoulder therein, a

bar insertable into said passageway from either end, one end of said bar being insertable through one lever while the other end of the bar is within said body whereby an adjacent lever may be moved into position corresponding to said one lever in order that said other end of said bar may be moved into the opening of said adjacent lever, means on said bar preventing passage of said bar through the opening in said adjacent'lever summciently' to permit passage of said one end of the bar out of the opening of any other lever, and a leaf spring having one end snapping in back of said shoulder as the levers become coupled, to lock the coupling permanently in place.

11. A coupling for yoking together of switch operating levers of completely fabricated switches in which the operating lever of each has a transverse opening therethrough, comprising a hollow body positionable between adjacent levers and having a passageway alignable with said lever openings, a bar insertable into said passageway, one end of said bar being insertable through a plurality of said levers and thereafter the other end of said bar being insertable into the opening in another lever, means on said bar preventing e of said bar through the opening in said other lever suiliciently to permit passage of said one end of the bar out of the opening in any other lever, and locking means operating when said coupling is assembled to prevent movement of said bar sufllciently to permit passage ofsaid other end of the bar out of said other lever.

12. A coupling for yoking together of adjacent switch operating levers of completely fabricated switches in which the operating lever of each has a transverse opening therethrough, comprising a hollow body positionable between adjacent levers and having a passageway alignable with said lever openings, abar insertable into said pasof the bar is within said body,

sageway, one end of said bar being insertable through a plurality of levers while the other end whereby an adjacent lever may be-moved into position corresponding to said plurality of levers in order that said levers may be coupled, and means automatically operating as said levers become coupled to prevent uncoupling. g

13. A coupling for yoking together of a plurality of switch operating levers of completely fabricated switches in which the operating lever of each has a transverse opening therethrough, comprising ahollow body positionable between adjacent levers and having a passageway alignable with said lever openings, a bar insertable into said passageway and having an extending end insertable through a plurality of levers, locking means preventing removal of said bar from one end of said body, means on said bar preventing passage of the. bar through the opening in that one of said adjacent switch levers which is farther from said one end of said body.

14. A coupling for yoking together of adjacent switch operating levers of completely fabricated switches in which the operating lever of each has a transverse opening therethrough, comprising a hollow body positionable between adjacent levers and having a pasageway alignable with said lever openings, a bar insertable into said passageway, one end of said bar being insertable through a plurality of levers while the other end of the bar is within said body, whereby an adjacent lever may be moved into position corresponding to said plurality of levers in order that said levers may be coupled, and spring means associated with said body and bar to lock the coupling as said levers become coupled.

15. In combination, a plurality of neighboring switch operating levers movable in parallel planes, each lever having a transverse aperture, a coupling for said levers comprising a hollow body between adjacent levers and having a pasinserted in said body.

body between adjacent sageway with a shoulder therein, a connecting member extending loosely through the body with one end extending through a plurality of levers and the other end extending into a lever adjacent said plurality of levers, means preventing said connecting member from moving entirely through the aperture of any of said levers, and means preventing withdrawal of said connecting member from one end of said body after being 16. In combination, a plurality of neighboring switch operating levers movable in parallel planes, each'lever having a transverse aperture, a coupling for said levers comprising a hollow levers and havinga passageway, a connecting bar in said passageway having an end extending through a plurality of levers, means on saidbar engageable with one of said levers to prevent withdrawal of the bar from the remainder of said levers, and means associated with said bar and body to .prevent withdrawal of said bar from said one of said levers.

DAVID W. JOHNSON. 

